The introduction and the push (Brentwood)

[MAJ Patterson]

The Captain walked in and paused for a moment as he looked around at the table and the chairs that were set about in a neatly fashion. The file cabinets were up against the far wall and seemed to be brimming with Intel, most of it was probably obsolete by now. He pulled his arm around the back of his body and gripped the edge of the door as he pushed it back into to it's original position. He strolled over to the opposite side of the table. He wouldn't sit with his back to an entrance or a window if he could help it. He pulled his chair up and placed his briefcase in front of him, centered on his body.

Captain Patterson was no stranger to conflict but he was new to the theater of operations. He wanted to get what information he could on what they knew of the German plans and where his unit was needed the most. He had yet to receive the remainder of the unit, but he hoped they weren't to far behind him. He pulled out a roster of his troops and scanned it briefly. There was some noise outside of the room as people were starting their day. He looked up almost expecting the door to open, but there was nothing. It was barely 0500 hrs. but he was ready to get down to business. He ran his eyes over the list once more and slid the folder back into his briefcase. He looked around for a moment, the room was surprisingly clean. Didn't look like the war had taken it's toll everywhere quit yet.

[♔ Liam J. Brentwood]

OOC: Tirreeeddd…. But I posted!

Walking along the tight and almost suffocating corridor, Lieutenant Brentwood ripped the green beret from off his head and let out a hard long hauled sigh as he swept one of his rugged hands through his long growing hair. The intelligence building was musky and confined to say the least, which had Liam on edge a little, not exactly liking the tight spots or narrow spaces. He was a man who preferred the open air and greenery, so venturing into the building for some documentation he had to gather for a mission briefing seemed like a daunting task in it’s self…

Briskly moving along, he began to feel his jaw stretch softly as a yawn emerged gaspingly from his mouth, followed by a long husk breath afterwards as he carelessly opened the Intelligence room’s door and swung it open in mid-flow to him finishing his yawning. Being caught off guard, Lieutenant Brentwood surprisingly jumped a little as he looked towards a male eerily sitting in a chair within the room; Liam’s heart almost stopped for a brief moment as he looked towards the man, completely unsure to who he was and why he was going through confidential documentation - the room was off bounds to all third parties, except those with Divisional Commandeering statures.

“Who the hell are you!? This building is off limits!” Liam Brentwood spurted out, totally unaware of the man’s rank or stature as a new Divisional Commander. Standing in the doorway still, he slowly glanced behind him and back into the room, awaiting an answer from the supposed impostor “If you’re looking for the bog, it isn’t in here, now I suggest you get out!” he firmly asserted again, pushing the door wide open and folding his arms, awaiting the trespassing male to leave.

[MAJ Patterson]

The Captain's head snapped across it's swivel and locked onto the door as it swung open. A tall man that apparently had not had his coffee this morning finished a yawn and then demanded that the Captain leave, he said that Patterson was apparently in the wrong room. "What is the bog?" He said ever so softly as he stood up, briefcase in hand. He stepped around his chair and pushed it in, tugged on his uniform top to straighten it and then proceeded toward the door.

As he came closer to The Lieutenant than his own elbow he leaned in toward the man. He whispered "You seem as if you are not a morning person. Why don't you grab yourself a cup of coffee and meet me back here in about ten minutes." He straitened his posture and stepped past the Lieutenant. It was a tight fit, but he at least wanted the man to cool off before they got down to it. "By the way, my unit just arrived about three hours ago and have yet to receive billeting, I'm Captain Patterson, and why don't you make that two cups of coffee." He held up his other hand and pointed at Brentwood and then to himself, he winked, only to signify that the other cup was for him.

He walked off down the hall, not waiting for a reply. He was in no way upset, the Lieutenant must have just been caught off guard and unaware of the new unit's arrival. But if he acted the same upon the Captains arrival back to the room, then they might have a problem. He turned down another hall headed toward the personnel office. He had some files to grab before the meeting started. The Lieutenant just happened to be so generous as to give him the opportunity.

[♔ Liam J. Brentwood]

As the male squeezed past after the questioning of ‘What’s the bog?’, which Lieutenant Brentwood ignored, he couldn’t help but soon realise the male was wearing two silver bar lapels upon his collar - almost immediately, Liam felt his gut churn and his face drain. He was known for his arrogance towards superiors - in a smart aleck sort of way, but he’d never spoken down too or disrespected any superiors, until now, which did unfortunately happen to be a pure honest mistake on his behalf.

“I.. Eh”[/b] he stuttered out beneath his breath, not quite knowing how to make it up to the Captain that did as he told from a lower ranking Officer, who soon suggested he got some drinks and came back in ten-minutes. Liam nodded slowly and stood there a little amazed he didn’t get a ‘bollocking’ from the Captain, if he were British, well, Liam would be on the courtyard right now, apologising from the debts of his lungs, giving a rude awakening to the other’s within the barracks who had to listen to it - But no, the American Captain brushed past and insinuated on getting some drinks, before giving off a grin and walking away without another word. Liam smirked a little as he walked away and murmured out “I drink tea… Bloody yank”, before he sighed heavily to himself and pulled the door closed, in search for some coffee.

---- 10/15mins later ---- (Didn’t know how else to carry on my post…)

Sitting in the room he’d accidentally bumped into the Captain in, Liam sipped from his scorching hot cup of brew and leaned against the window frame as he quietly looked out onto the courtyard. The Captain’s mug of coffee was on the table and Liam couldn’t help but wonder what the new supposed Captain had to do with him? He could only pray he wasn’t here to take over the British Commandos; he certainly would give him a lot of stick if that were so, but either way, he remained curious within his own right and continued to sip at his strong brew, overlooking the subordinates wandering around below…

[MAJ Patterson]

"Thank you ma'am." the Captain replied over his shoulder as he headed off back toward the briefing room after having been given the files requested. He thumbed through them briefly as he made his way, looking up every so often to make sure he did not run into anybody or anything. He slid the files into his briefcase and kept on walking. He arrived at the room and opened the door.

"Lieutenant. I trust your temporary illness has passed that led to the outburst earlier." he said with his back to him as he closed the door, just so Brentwood could go ahead and make the faces he wanted as he vented. He turned and placed his briefcase onto the table centered on the chair next to him, he had yet to place his eyes on the Lieutenant. He unsnapped the clasps and flipped open the main pouch. The Captain looked up, "Is that for me?" he pointed to the cup of coffee on the other end of the table next to the Lieutenant. He reached down and pulled out his recently acquired files and looked toward Brentwood.

"You are the officer with the most experience of any other two combined in the area. Is this correct?" His eyebrows raised. Says here your unit also has seen the most combat. Is this also correct?" He asked them back to back leaving no space for a reply, then once again, with out waiting for the Lieutenant's response "The reason I ask is because I have very little combat experience and most of my men are as green as they come. I was hoping you may be able to help me put them through a training program that would help. I am fully aware it will not be anything like the real thing, but I doubt most of them have fired a weapon since basic training." He looked around, resting his eyes on the Lieutenant once more to judge his facial response. "I figured you were the man to come to. But please, don't go change your schedule, this is simply a courtesy." He pulled the chair out and took a seat so that they could hopefully bang out the details. "What is the bog?" He asked again.

[♔ Liam J. Brentwood]

Hearing the door open and the Captain ask whether his ‘Temporary illness’ has passed, the Lieutenant quickly leaned up from the window and stood straight, holding his cup of tea in one hand, whilst the other jaggedly shuffled into his pocket. “Oh I’m sorry about that earlier Sir, I’m not used to other Officers using this room” he said apologetically, twisting a small smile upon his cheeky face briefly - but the man didn’t bother to look at him…

“Oh yeah, that’s your coffee” he said in response to the Captain asking whether the Coffee was his or not, the Lieutenant couldn’t help but kick himself mentally at even making him the coffee - how degrading, but then the male slipped out some documentation and began to ask questions. Immediately, Lieutenant Brentwood’s posture slackened and his face dulled, perhaps this was to do with the Royal Commandos becoming under new management… “I eh… Guess so - Sir” he replied quickly to the curious question about himself and his Division seeing combat, but then the real tonne of bricks fell as the Captain announced his ‘rookie’ side within the field, which was a big weight off the Lieutenant’s shoulders as he looked towards the Captain of the 3rd brigade, hardly hearing him ask for the Lieutenant’s help on training his men -- was he serious!?

Standing quietly still for a brief moment, Lieutenant Brentwood shuffled upon his feet and looked around the room, his hands now cradling the mug of tea as he pondered on what he was supposed to say. “You haven’t any experience, Sir?” he asked again, as if needing the Captain to repeat himself. It wasn’t uncommon for most Commissioned Officers to not have experience, hence the NCO’s job, but the man before him was asking for the Lieutenant’s help - which was something uncommon in his books. “I can help you train them, yes, but as their Officer - Sir. I would highly recommend you take the credit for the training. I think it’s essential these men, your men, hear you telling them what to do - Sir” the Lieutenant said a little timidly, trying to find the right words as he slowly began to lean against the desk, taking a sip from his tea briefly, before continuing to speak.

“I’m not their Commander Sir, but by all means, I’m happy to help you. I just think it’s wise you’re the one to run them through the training - there’s nothing more a man finds worrying, than a greenbelt leading them… No offence sir…” he slipped out a little worriedly himself, hoping he didn’t offend the Officer, but Lieutenant Brentwood wasn’t exactly a brainy Officer like the others - more along the lines of a grunt with higher beneficial’s, a rough diamond of the works.

[MAJ Patterson]

The Lieutenant said that the coffee was indeed for the Captain. Patterson looked at the steaming cup on the other side of the table and then back towards the Lieutenant. "Well thank you Lieutenant, but I don't drink coffee." He let a small smile come out for the briefest of moments as he winked toward the Lieutenant. He hoped he didn't upset the Lieutenant with the comment, but he did have the lack of a sense of humor.

Patterson didn't like to make men feel bad or get them upset, they tend to make bad decisions that way, but men needed to be kept in line. He would never say another word about it and he would never let anything of the nature from anyone be public knowledge. It was just not a very professional thing to do to another soldier, regardless of their rank.

Patterson listened as the Lieutenant spoke of his men and the training the Captain had asked about. The Lieutenant was making very good points, all points that the Captain had intended on himself. "No offense Lieutenant, but I did have the intentions of putting them through the training myself. I was hoping you wouldn't mind being there during the process though." He pulled another file from his briefcase and set it next to the opened file of the Royal Marine Commandos but he did not open it, yet.

"Pride is not a thing that has a place in war Lieutenant. That is why I have no problems asking for your help." He feared the Lieutenant would not have the time to be away from his men during the entire training process. "I'm sure you want the best training for your men as well? If there is anything I can ever do for you in the future, all you need do is ask." Then an idea floated into his hardened skull. "Well if you don't mind sitting down with me for an evening or whenever you have the time Lieutenant, we could go over the drills and obstacles and other items and possibly have a joint effort. Your unit and my unit could train together, that way you would not have to spend anytime away from your men and no one would be suspicious of you being there." The talk about the men was leading to his next topic he wanted to discuss. "What do you say Lieutenant?"

"One other thing I was curious about Lieutenant, if you have a few more minutes to spare?" He hoped the Lieutenant would be able to stick around for a few more moments to cover the subject but he wouldn't hold him up if he had plans he needed to attend to. He would just find him on another day.

[♔ Liam J. Brentwood]

“He doesn’t drink Coffee?” was one of the thoughts that ran through the Lieutenant’s hardened skull, before a small grin emerged upon his face. He wasn’t offended the Captain made him run an errand of making a Coffee - it certainly reminded him to be more, well, polite to those he was unsure about and hey, it was a better slap on the wrist as to that of his British Superiors; hell, they would’ve had him cleaning out the tin can for a week! Even if that were a grunt’s punishment. Most superiors despised Liam for his arrogance at times, but they couldn’t deny him the fact, that he just happened to be a good asset to the field.

Taking another sip from his cup of tiffin’ the Lieutenant patiently listened to the Captain talk. He was pleased to hear the Officer was going to attend the training sessions himself, most Officers didn’t, it was usually a “Sergeant, do this! Sergeant, do that!” - but there was only so much any Sergeant could do and if the lads knew they had a good brain at the top, well, they wouldn’t hesitate to any judgement he would make in the near future. Right?

The Lieutenant nodded quietly, agreeing that honour and pride shouldn’t be an obstacle in the way of bettering the soldier’s quality of life, it was incidents of pride that had most men dead. “Of Course Sir” said the Lieutenant in a sharp response to the Captain’s request on perhaps sitting down and going over the basics of obstacles and training procedures, before speaking again “I’d be more than happy to get some of my rowdy lot in on the act as-well. I do have some valued units within my division that could share a few tips with your own lads Sir. I’m sure they’d be happy to hear some important pointers from a few guys in their own shoes” he said softly, his hand automatically drawing the cup of tea to his lips again, as he sipped at it.

As the Captain questioned on a little more time to spare, with a few curious questions, the Lieutenant nodded and shuffled against the desk somewhat as he observed the two folders being laid out upon the desk. Was he going to compare the two Divisions? Or suggest some sort of - alliance? In a sense that had the two mingling together, but how that would work, the Lieutenant wasn’t too sure. So nodding towards the Captain, he uttered out “Go on then Sir, I have plenty of free time” he said reassuringly, his eyes lisping over the Captain’s features, trying to foresee what he might have to ask or say…

[MAJ Patterson]

He saw the Lieutenant's smile in reference to his coffee remark and knew that he was a better man than most had let on. He was also pleased to know that the Lieutenant did not have a problem with the multiple unit training idea. "Great, glad to hear it Lieutenant." He took his seat and pulled his chair too. He closed one folder and opened the other that he had just set out. "Now, I'm afraid, we need to discuss the make up of your unit and the reaction it may receive during this joint exercise." He hated the fact that this was an issue, as long as the men were fighting toward the same goal, he saw no reason that it should matter what patch they wore.

"What I'm saying is that you have some American military soldiers in your unit Lieutenant. I'm sure you are fully aware of this, personally I have no problem with it, but the American boys in my unit might not take to kindly to it." He hated to label his men as ignorant, but he knew it too be true along with anyone else that could see past their nose. "Anyone that has ever held a conversation with an American knows it, we tend to think we could conquer the world and need no ones help to do it. Well Lieutenant, if you would be so kind as to ask your men to be the better men here, and see if they could just take it easy on my guys for the first few days, just until they got to know each other. I'm gonna tell my men, but they are pretty head strong."

[♔ Liam J. Brentwood]

Watching as one ‘Story’ closed and another ‘Opened’, the Lieutenant’s eyes idly slithered over the details of the folder’s contents upon the desk, wondering what the next set of questions would be and then, the Make-Up of his Division was asserted - the Lieutenant hardly breathed for a moment, as he let out a long sigh and licked his lips, watching the Captain slur out the ‘Problem?’ of having some (Ex Ranger) Americans within his division; he understood totally the conflict that may arise between the two divisions, it was a similarity he’d seen in Africa upon his early days as a Second Lieutenant - One black man didn’t like being told to do by another black-man. It seemed ironic the same trait went for most other races, pride again?

“I understand Sir” he said in a verbal authentication, rather than a nod. “Actually, Captain. If you was concerned about me bringing the hunk of my division to these training sessions, I’ll be more than wise and happy to bring a handful of my trusted men. They’re good lads, both the yanks and limeys in my Regiment. I can assure you, they wouldn’t cause any trouble” he said with a small grin, knowing that a competitive streak would inevitably form between the lads, but nothing more. Glancing down at the desk momentarily, he slowly began to place his mug of tea onto the table and grinned to himself a little more… As if he were pondering on being a good Samaritan for once?

“Sir… I’d be more than happy to assign you some of my Ex-Rangers to your Division. As it stands, head-quarters seem to be taking a shine to my work and giving me more lads as the days go on. I think it would be wise to kill two birds with one stone here, Sir… I help you… You help me…” he said with a cheeky smile, before continuing “I give you some extra man power, experienced men at that to help your new recruits already and well, perhaps you could see about putting in a good word for me at HQ? The Officers seem adamant to keep me stripped of any higher privileges…” he wasn’t bribing or bending the rules, he was clearly asking for a fair trade. He’d be happy to give the Captain help in training his men AND give him some units to strengthen his growing Division. Ex-Rangers at that.

The Lieutenant perked a brow and awaited some kind of deal between the two officers. Liam was growing sick of being brushed aside every time he done something worth a promo - but merely be pushed aside by the British Superiors who were headstrong to give him a promotion. Perhaps another verdict in the books would earn him his better rank to lead the larger number of men, growing beneath his command daily…

[MAJ Patterson]

Patterson's eyes made a b-line toward the Lieutenant as he mention handing over the Ex-Rangers of his unit. "I never intended to ask you for men, I will not be the reason you lose some of your force, I heard your unit is going to be hitting the lines pretty soon, in one of the largest PUSHES the Allies have made yet. And your men were not the ones I was worried about in the training, it was my own, they are all green and are pretty gung-ho and what not." He closed up his folders and placed them in a stack to his left.

He looked around briefly once more and then landed hie sight back to the Lieutenant. "I was wondering why you still remained a Lieutenant. None of my business, but did you piss off someone in a high place? I just don't want to get blind sided if I go to bat for you. As far as I can tell you have earned and I'm gonna see that you get it. So be honest with me right now, is their ANYTHING I need to know before I speak to the Colonel on your behalf?"

Then an idea popped into his cranium that may help if the situation needed it. "You hang me out to dry and I'll see to it that you are stuck in Africa for the rest of the war, whether you are needed or not, and I'll fold your unit right into mine. Understood. So let's have it." He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back a bit as his eyes narrowed, trying to figure out this Lieutenant across the table. He was a Veteran, earned the title many times over and has yet to receive a promotion, there was something that just didn't fit.

[♔ Liam J. Brentwood]

The Lieutenant pulled a “Fair Enough” sort of face as he mentioned about the frontal assault against the Germans upcoming. It was true, the whole force of the Royal Marines Commandos would be entering combat real soon, in their large numbers, but what the Captain hadn’t realised, was that he’d recently signed for another sum of men to be handed to his division - a good handful of them had already arrived at the barracks for briefings and billeting into the new Division; perhaps some quick training and hence’ forth to get them acquainted with the amphibious lifestyle of the Commandos.

Then the bitter question was asked; Why was he still a junior ranking CO? Liam grinded his teeth somewhat and picked up his mug of tea, muttering into the cup as he took a swig of his good ol’ rosy. Looking to the Captain who continued to eventually made a kind-hearted threat, that if he didn’t get his side of the bargain, he’d be shipped out to Africa and lose his commandeering place as the Commander of the Royal Marines Commandos altogether. Hell, Liam would never turn over the Captain, he wasn’t that way inclined…

After taking another sip of his tea, he slowly placed the mug back down onto the desk and sucked in a long breath through the slits of his teeth to look towards the Captain and nod “Alright Sir”, he said with a weak introduction upon the question at hand. Softly reaching up for his green beret, he dragged it from his head and took one look at the insignia of the Royal Marines Commandos, before plonking it down onto the desk in front of the Captain. “I used to command a Division known as the Thirty AU, which was a small Assault Unit regularly used for recognisance and skirmishes behind enemy lines…” he said gently, before taking a long breath to continue “At the time, our Commander and chief was Captain Lewis Huntley. A dear old chap, Y’know? Nice as they came”, shuffling upon the desk a little, he grinned to himself and shook his head slightly to once again continue “We had our briefing to hit this fuel dump at O-Four hundred hours, shake Jerry up a little, slow their armour advancing into France… But it went wrong, horribly wrong. Out of the assault force, only four people survived and I’m talking out of thirty odd good lads, only four of us came back!” Liam pulled a disgruntled look and briefly looked away, shaking his head again.

Taking a long breath, he looked back and got to the point “Well, Captain Huntley wasn’t as sweet as he used to be and his dear friends Lieutenant Colonel Handson and Major Wilkinson saved his dear hind from getting a thrashing. The blame was passed onto my shoulders for ruining the mission and Captain Huntley got a big fat medal for screwing us over… Heh… So they’ve been the thorns in my side all these years and the rumours spread year after year among all the new recruits. Of course, my lads don’t believe a word, they’ve seen me fight and encase you’re wondering why this isn’t put into the records - Sir, of my miraculous screw up, is because they don’t want anymore questions asked. To them, the past is the past” announced the Lieutenant, who reached out for his beret on the desk and looked at it, pondering why he even had this new division with so many troops coming in… Maybe they want him dead? Send good Lieutenant Brentwood up front and pray he gets shot…

[MAJ Patterson]

Patterson sat back as the Lieutenant spoke of recon and the nature, he listened with the fullest intent, he thought the man was going to speak of things that he did that "never happened". That being the reason he had no more weight to his rank. But then the truth came out and it was completely understandable. They will try to pin anything on anyone if they can get away with it. "Well if it isn't on the record than they can't legally get away with holding it against you Lieutenant." He leaned forward "If they try to do so, I'll just head over to the J.A.G. office and see what they can do." he winked as he sat back into his seat.

"Well then, I guess that settles it Lieutenant, I'll go see if you can't get the rank to go with your prestige you have earned on the field of battle." He meant every word of it, but he knew it would not be easy, his unit was new to the theater of operations and his own Lieutenant had not made a great first impression on him the night before. "Back to the training Lieutenant, when do you think we could get the show on the road?"

[♔ Liam J. Brentwood]

OOC: Sorry it’s short.

Liam Shrugged a little as the Captain mentioned they couldn’t legally get away with it. The only reason it wasn’t put on record, was that no suspicious questions would be asked and two other soldiers surviving the conflict at the time were bullied into agreeing that Brentwood had misjudged and mislead. It was a shamble to say the least, but the true meaning behind why it hadn’t been on record did remain a mystery in his eyes… Were they at least a little bit sympathetic? Just to only verbally demoralise and degrade the Lieutenant, or was it so the Officer was still on the field of fire, under these pompass men’s demands? It seemed that way. Perhaps they wanted him governing into the field of fire, risking his own life rather than that of their friends - or themselves. Probably explain the upcoming advance his division would be making, it was suicidal!

He smiled however when the Captain seemed to be siding with him. It was a blessing someone was. “Thanks Sir” he uttered out quietly, not usually showing much compassion or giving to his superiors. Now the dear Captain would know why ‘arrogance’ was written into his portfolio; he despised his superiors for what they done. “Training - Yes… I’m more than happy to curve my timetable whenever your troop is ready Sir. I’d hate to suggest a time and your lads aren’t ready” he said briskly, his eyes lisping over the Captain’s folders again, wondering if he’d written anything about their meeting today? Grinning to himself, he hoped not.

[MAJ Patterson]

OOC: Not as short as mine was or is, just not much left

"You are more than welcome Lieutenant." Patterson said as he scooped up his folders and slid them back into his briefcase. The Lieutenant spoke of rearranging his schedule to accommodate the training. "No need to do such a thing Lieutenant, your men are the ones that are going to hit the line soon, if you need be with them for training, by all means, but if you have a meeting or something you would like to get out of, well I think I can pull a string or two." He stood up and peered out the window, "Wow, time flies, care to join me for a bite to eat Lieutenant? I do eat." He winked to the Lieutenant once more in reference to his coffee remark earlier in the morning.